Screening of Combinatorial Quality Markers for Natural Products by Metabolomics Coupled With Chemometrics. A Case Study on Pollen Typhae

Identifying the active ingredients of carbonized Typhae Pollen by spectrum-effect relationship combined with MBPLS, PLS, and SVM algorithms

Typhae Pollen (TP) and its carbonized product (carbonized Typhae Pollen, CTP), as cut-and-dried herbal drugs, have been widely used in the form of slices in clinical settings. However, the two drugs exhibit a great difference in terms of their clinical efficacy, for TP boasts an effect of removing blood stasis and promoting blood circulation, while CTP typically presents a hemostatic function. Since the active ingredients of CTP, so far, still remain unclear, this study aimed at identifying the active ingredients of CTP by spectrum-effect relationship approach coupled with multi-block partial least squares (MBPLS), partial least squares (PLS), and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms. In this study, the chemical profiles of a series of CTP samples which were stir-fried for different duration (denoted as CTP0∼CTP9) were firstly characterized by UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap MS. Then the hemostatic effect of the CTP samples was evaluated from the perspective of multiple parameters-APTT, PT, TT, FIB, TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α, PAI-1 and t-PA-using established rat models with functional uterine bleeding. Subsequently, MBPLS, PLS and SVM were combined to perform spectrum-effect relationship analysis to identify the active ingredients of CTP, followed by an in vitro hemostatic bioactivity test for verification. As a result, a total of 77 chemical ingredients were preliminarily identified from the CTP samples, and the variations occurred in these ingredients were also analyzed during the carbonizing process. The study revealed that all the CTP samples, to a varying degree, showed a hemostatic effect, among which CTP6 and CTP7 were superior to the others in terms of the hemostatic effect. The block importance in the projection (BIP) indexes of MBPLS model indicated that flavonoids and organic acids made more contributions to the hemostatic effect of CTP in comparison to other ingredients. Consequently, 9 bioactive ingredients, including quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, 2-methylenebutanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, benzoic acid and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, were further identified as the potential active ingredients based on PLS and SVM models as well as the in vitro verification. This study successfully revealed the bioactive ingredients of CTP associated with its hemostatic effect, and also provided a scientific basis for further understanding the mechanism of TP processing. In addition, it proposed a novel path to identify the active ingredients for Chinese herbal medicines.

Ultrasmall and highly biocompatible carbon dots derived from natural plant with amelioration against acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) refers to a tricky clinical disease, known by its high morbidity and mortality, with no real specific medicine for AKI. The carbonization product from Pollen Typhae (i.e., Pu-huang in China) has been extensively employed in clinic, and it is capable of relieving the renal damage and other diseases in China since acient times.

RESULTS

Inspired by the carbonization process of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a novel species of carbon dots derived from Pollen Typhae (PT-CDs) was separated and then collected using a one-pot pyrolysis method. The as-prepared PT-CDs (4.85 ± 2.06 nm) with negative charge and abundant oxygenated groups exhibited high solubility, and they were stable in water. Moreover, the rhabdomyolysis (RM)-induced AKI rat model was used, and it was first demonstrated that PT-CDs had significant activity in improving the level of BUN and CRE, urine volume and kidney index, and histopathological morphology in RM-induced AKI rats. It is noteworthy that interventions of PT-CDs significantly reduced degree of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, which may be correlated with the basial potential mechanism of anti-AKI activities. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assay and biosafety evaluation exhibited high biocompatibility of PT-CDs.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a novel relieving strategy for AKI based on PT-CDs and suggests its potential to be a related candidate for clinical applications.

Comparative Study on Chemical Constituents of Ginseng Flowers with Four Consecutive Cultivation Age

The harvest period of cultivated ginseng is generally 4-6 years. Ginseng flowers (GFs), the nonmedicinal parts, are usually removed every autumn, in which components are generally believed to stay unchanged with the increasing cultivation age. Recently, few documents were reported on the variation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other components about ginseng flowers. This study had an insight into the variation of the chemical constituents with the cultivation ages through the comparison of the volatile organic compounds, gross ginsenosides, crude polysaccharide, and gross proteins of ginseng flowers from 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-old (GF3, GF4, GF5, and GF6) which were conducted by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-QQQ/MS) and spectroscopic analysis combined with multivariate statistical analysis, including one-way ANOVA analysis and T test. The results indicated that the crude polysaccharide contents raised significantly depending on cultivation age except 6-yr-old, whereas the gross ginsenosides and the gross protein content were indistinctive. According to the peak intensity of determined VOCs, the contents of most differential compounds arranged in an order from high to low are GF3, GF4, GF5, and GF6, such as the compounds 2-15, 17-19, 22, and 25-26, therefore, they can be inferred that they are important markers to identify the age of GFs. 461 common differential compounds were gained and 26 common volatile organic compounds were identified with RSI >800 and RI and RIx no more than 30, including alcohols (such as 11, 12, and 15), sesquiterpenes (such as 2, 3, and 4), esters (such as 1 and 26), naphthalene and naphthol (such as 7 and 20), which had potential effects on curing Alzheimer's disease, inflammatory diseases, and prostate cancer based on network pharmacology analysis. This paper firstly revealed the variation rules of constitutions of GFs, which may provide a reference for the harvest and making rational application.

Cytochrome P450 inhibition activities of non-standardized botanical products

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

R-tab, H-tab and E-cap botanical products are used for the treatment of various ailments. R-tab is traditionally prescribed for improving urination, H-tab is for relieving piles, hemorrhoids, fissures, and rectal inflammation and E-cap is for regulating menstruation.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To extract the botanical products and determine their potential interaction with the cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4) enzymes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

R-tab, H-tab and E-cap botanical products were first extracted using solvents and analyzed using HPLC and LC-MS/MS. The effects of methanol extracts on the cytochrome induction and inhibition activities were determined using a series of in vitro assays, including multiplex RT-qPCR, CYP activity assays (P450-Glo™) and LC-MS/MS-based assays. For the CYP induction assay, omeprazole, rifampicin and dexamethasone were used as CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inducers, respectively. Ketoconazole and acetaminophen were used as positive and negative controls for the CYP3A4 inhibition assay, whereas furafylline and ketoconazole were used as positive and negative controls for the CYP1A2 inhibition assay.

RESULTS

All three botanical products did not show any significant induction in CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 mRNA expression. By contrast, R-tab inhibited the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 significantly from the lowest concentration of 0.01 μg/mL, while, H-tab inhibited the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 from 0.1 μg/mL. Based on the P450 Glo assays, E-cap extract inhibited the metabolic activity of CYP1A2 with an IC₅₀ value of 37.24 μg/mL. On the other hand, R-tab, H-tab and E-cap showed inhibitory effects on the CYP3A4 enzymatic activity with IC₅₀ values of 17.42, 18.20 and 20.60 μg/mL, respectively. However, using the LC-MS/MS-based methods, the concentration-dependent effects of R-tab and H-tab extracts on the metabolism of testosterone appeared to be more prominent, with IC₅₀ values of 51.90 and 56.90 μg/mL as compared with the rest of the results, which were all above 100 μg/mL CONCLUSION: The CYP3A4 mRNA and enzymatic activity were moderately inhibited by R-tab and H-tab. Methanol extract of botanical products in solid dosage forms can be evaluated for their herb-drug interaction risks using in vitro assays and may provide the minimum data required for safety labeling.

Discovery of processing-associated Q-marker of carbonized traditional Chinese medicine: An integrated strategy of metabolomics, systems pharmacology and in vivo high-throughput screening model

BACKGROUND

Carbonized traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a kind of distinctive traditional medicine, which has been widely used to cure various bleeding syndromes in clinic for over 2000 years. However, there are no effective quality control methods developed on carbonized TCM so far.

PURPOSE

This study aimed at developing a processing-associated quality marker (Q-marker) discovery strategy, which would enable to promote the quality control study of carbonized TCM.

METHODS

Carbonized Typhae Pollen (CTP), a typical carbonized TCM with fantastic efficacy of stanching bleeding and removing blood stasis, was used as an example. First, a ultraperformance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) method was established to characterize four types of CTP in different processing degrees. Second, chemometric method was applied to screen candidate Q-markers. Third, peak area changes and A_ratio changes of each candidate markers in 57 batches samples were described (Traceability and Transitivity). Fourth, systems pharmacology and two high-throughput zebrafish models: cerebral hemorrhage model and thrombus model were used to furtherly screen Q-markers (Effectiveness). Finally, a ultraperformance liquid chromatographic coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQ-MS) method was established and applied to quantify Q-markers in additional 10 batches of CTP samples (Measurability).

RESULTS

The chemical profiles of Typhae Pollen during the carbonized process were investigated. Then, 12 candidate compounds were screened in chemometric part. Six Q-markers (isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-neohesperidoside, naringenin, quercetin and isorhamnetin) were subsequently screened out using three principles of Q-markers combined with content changes and two in vivo zebrafish models. Their average contents in additional 10 batches of CTP were 316.8 μg/g, 13.7 μg/g, 6.1 μg/g, 197.8 μg/g, 12.9 μg/g and 199.3 μg/g, respectively. Their content proportion was about 25: 1: 0.5: 15: 1: 15.

CONCLUSION

A processing-associated Q-marker discovery strategy was developed for carbonized TCM. It might provide a novel insight to solve the problem of 'Chao Tan Cun Xing' in carbonized process.

Chemical Characterization and Metabolic Profiling of the Compounds in the Chinese Herbal Formula Li Chang Decoction by UPLC-QTOF/MS

Background

Li Chang decoction (LCD), a Chinese medicine formula, is commonly used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in clinics.

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the major components in LCD and its prototype and metabolic components in rat biological samples.

Methods

The chemical constituents in LCD were identified by establishing a reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method. Afterwards, the rats were orally administered with LCD, and the biological samples (plasma, urine, and feces) were collected for further analyzing the effective compounds in the treatment of UC.

Result

A total of 104 compounds were discriminated in LCD, including 26 flavonoids, 20 organic acids, 20 saponins, 8 amino acids, 5 oligosaccharides, 5 tannins, 3 lignans, 2 alkaloids, and 15 others (nucleosides, glycosides, esters, etc.). About 50 prototype and 94 metabolic components of LCD were identified in biological samples. In total, 29 prototype components and 22 metabolic types were detected in plasma. About 27 prototypes and 96 metabolites were discriminated in urine, and 34 prototypes and 18 metabolites were identified in feces.

Conclusion

The flavonoids, organic acids, and saponins were the major compounds of LCD, and this study promotes the further pharmacokinetic and pharmacological evaluation of LCD.

Metabolomics and health: from nutritional crops and plant-based pharmaceuticals to profiling of human biofluids

During the past decade metabolomics has emerged as one of the fastest developing branches of “-omics” technologies. Metabolomics involves documentation, identification, and quantification of metabolites through modern analytical platforms in various biological systems. Advanced analytical tools, such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC/MS), and non-destructive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, have facilitated metabolite profiling of complex biological matrices. Metabolomics, along with transcriptomics, has an influential role in discovering connections between genetic regulation, metabolite phenotyping and biomarkers identification. Comprehensive metabolite profiling allows integration of the summarized data towards manipulation of biosynthetic pathways, determination of nutritional quality markers, improvement in crop yield, selection of desired metabolites/genes, and their heritability in modern breeding. Along with that, metabolomics is invaluable in predicting the biological activity of medicinal plants, assisting the bioactivity-guided fractionation process and bioactive leads discovery, as well as serving as a tool for quality control and authentication of commercial plant-derived natural products. Metabolomic analysis of human biofluids is implemented in clinical practice to discriminate between physiological and pathological state in humans, to aid early disease biomarker discovery and predict individual response to drug therapy. Thus, metabolomics could be utilized to preserve human health by improving the nutritional quality of crops and accelerating plant-derived bioactive leads discovery through disease diagnostics, or through increasing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs via more personalized approach. Here, we attempt to explore the potential value of metabolite profiling comprising the above-mentioned applications of metabolomics in crop improvement, medicinal plants utilization, and, in the prognosis, diagnosis and management of complex diseases.

Development of an HPTLC-based dynamic reference standard for the analysis of complex natural products using Jarrah honey as test sample

In this paper, we describe a novel approach to the development of a reference standard for the quality control of complex natural products, which will assist in the assessment of their authenticity and purity. The proposed method provides a template for the selection of samples, which can be pooled to obtain a reference standard. A shortfall of such an approach is, however, that the pooled sample is static in nature and therefore unable to capture difference in processing conditions or natural variations triggered by geographical or climatic impacts over time. To address this, the paper also outlines the development of a dynamic reference standard, which allows for ongoing adjustments to future variations. The method employs High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) derived extract profiles processed by multivariate analysis. The development of the dynamic reference standard is illustrated using honey, a complex natural matrix, as an example.

Effects of carbonized process on quality control, chemical composition and pharmacology of Typhae Pollen: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Carbonized Typhae Pollen (CTP), a processed product of Typhae Pollen after stir-fried, is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with functions of removing blood stasis and hemostasis.

AIM OF REVIEW

The aim of this study is to summarize and discuss up-to-date information on quality control of CTP, and effects of carbonized process on phytochemistry and biological activities. We hope this review could provide feasible insights for further studies of CTP on its material basis and pharmacological effect mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The information of TP before and after carbonized process was collected from online databases (PubMed, CNKI, Google Scholar, Baidu Xueshu, Web of Science, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, SciFinder and Chemical book). Meanwhile local books, published and unpublished Ph.D., MSc. dissertations were also taken into consideration.

RESULTS

A total of 27 Ph.D., MSc. dissertations and 208 articles were collected from online database, from which 122 compounds of TP were collected, but only two researches focused on the chemical compositions of CTP. Introductions of new technologies and intelligent processing equipment developments are considered as two main solutions to the quality control of CTP. CTP is a well-known ethnic medicine in China with a fantastic efficacy in curing bleeding caused by blood stasis. Flavonoids were reported as the main active compounds for removing blood stasis while the enhanced hemostatic activity were consistent with flavonoid aglycones. Modern pharmacological researches showed that CTP has wound healing activity, effects on blood vessels, antithrombotic activity, hemostatic activity, antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although CTP has been widely used in clinic, there are some problems blocking its further development. Unknown mechanism and uncertain active compounds might be the main reasons for few rules on controlling the quality of CTP. It is necessary to investigate the mechanisms and the relationship between carbonized process and the changes in constituents as well as pharmacological effects. This is essential to promote the safe clinical use of CTP.

Metabolite Profiling of Manilkara zapota L. Leaves by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Coupled with ESI and APCI and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity, α-Glucosidase, and Elastase Inhibition Assays

High-resolution mass spectrometry equipped with electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources was used to enhance the characterization of phytochemicals of ethanol extracts of Manilkara zapota L. leaves (ZLE). Sugar compounds, dicarboxylic acids, compounds of phenolic acids and flavonoids groups, and other phytochemicals were detected from the leaves. Antioxidant activity and inhibition potentiality of ZLE against α-glucosidase enzyme, and elastase enzyme activities were evaluated in in vitro analysis. ZLE significantly inhibited activities of α-glucosidase enzyme at a lower concentration (IC50 2.51 ± 0.15 µg/mL). Glucose uptake in C2C12 cells was significantly enhanced by 42.13 ± 0.15% following the treatment with ZLE at 30 µg/mL. It also exhibited potential antioxidant activities and elastase enzyme inhibition activity (IC50 27.51 ± 1.70 µg/mL). Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) detected more m/z peaks than electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and both ionization techniques illustrated the biological activities of the detected compounds more thoroughly compared to single-mode analysis. Our findings suggest that APCI along with ESI is a potential ionization technique for metabolite profiling, and ZLE has the potential in managing diabetes by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity and enhancing glucose uptake.

Quality assessment of Typhae Pollen Carbonisata based on chromaticity analysis combined with UPLC fingerprinting and thrombin activity

INTRODUCTION

Typhae pollen (TP) has been used as an anticoagulant in traditional Chinese medicine and throughout Asia. Typhae Pollen Carbonisata (TPC), a processed product of TP, has hemostatic properties. TPC is produced by frying TP, and the degree of processing can be judged by the colour change from yellow to brown.

OBJECTIVE

To establish a novel method for quality assessment of TPC and discriminate TPC from underdone products and overdone products.

METHODOLOGY

The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) L^* a^* b^* colour space values of TP and TPC were measured to establish the colour model of TPC. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography was developed for fingerprinting. Thrombin activity promoting rates, clotting time, and bleeding time illustrated the difference in the hemostatic effect of the processed products. Chemometric approaches were performed to reveal the correlation between components and colour values or thrombin activity.

RESULTS

Reference ranges of colour values and mathematical functions of TPC were established. The developed method was found to be fast, economic, sensitive, and stable. Fingerprints and thrombin activity in conjunction with partial least squares (PLS) demonstrated that peaks 2, 4, 7, 30, and 36 (isorhamnetin) were the main contributors for colour values and hemostatic activity of TPC.

CONCLUSIONS

TPC and its unqualified products can be effectively distinguished based on chromaticity analysis, which provides a powerful tool for the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Chinese herbal medicines.

Characterization of thrombin/factor Xa inhibitors in Rhizoma Chuanxiong through UPLC-MS-based multivariate statistical analysis

Background

The dry root and rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., or Chuanxiong, has been used as a blood-activating and stasis-removing traditional Chinese medicine for 1000 years. Our previous studies have shown the inhibitory activity on platelet and thrombin (THR) of Chuanxiong. THR and factor Xa (FXa) play significant roles in the coagulation cascade and their inhibitors are of valuable in the treatment of thromboembolic diseases. The aim of the present study is to screen THR and FXa inhibitors from Chuanxiong.

Methods

Four extracts [ethyl acetate (EA), butanol (BA) and remained extract (RE) from 75% ethanol extract, and water extract (WE)] of Chuanxiong were prepared, and their THR/FXa inhibitory activities were assessed in vitro. Following silica-gel column chromatography (SC), the active EA extract and BA extract was further partitioned, respectively. Their active fractions (EA-SC1 to EA-SC5; BA-SC1 to BA-SC5) were obtained and analyzed by LC–MS. After modeling by the principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA), the specific marker compounds were predicted and identified. Their enzyme inhibitory was assessed in vitro and interactions with THR/FXa were investigated by molecular docking analysis.

Results

Chuanxiong EA extract showed strong activity against THR and BA extract was more effective in inhibiting FXa activity, and their fractions exhibited obvious difference in enzyme inhibitory activity. Furthermore, marker compounds a–h were predicted by PCA and OPLS-DA, and their chemical structures were identified. Among them, senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide, ferulic acid and senkyunolide I (IC₅₀ was determined as 0.77 mM) with potential THR inhibitory activity, as well as isochlorogenic acid A with FXa inhibitory activity were screened out. It was found that the four components could interact with the active site of THR, and the binding energy was lower than − 5 kcal/mol. Isochlorogenic acid A were bound to the active site of FXa, and the binding energy was − 9.39 kcal/mol. The IC₅₀ was determined as 0.56 mM.

Conclusions

THR/FXa inhibitory components in different extracts of Chuanxiong were successfully characterized by the method of enzyme inhibition activity assays with ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry-based multivariate statistical analysis.

Chemotype classification and biomarker screening of male Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. flower core collections using UPLC-QTOF/MS-based non-targeted metabolomics

Background

In the Chinese health care industry, male Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. flowers are newly approved as a raw material of functional food. Core collections have been constructed from conserved germplasm resources based on phenotypic traits and molecular markers. However, little is known about these collections’ phytochemical properties. This study explored the chemical composition of male E. ulmoides flowers, in order to provide guidance in the quality control, sustainable cultivation, and directional breeding of this tree species.

Methods

We assessed the male flowers from 22 core collections using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) non-targeted metabolomics, and analyzed them using multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).

Results

We annotated a total of 451 and 325 metabolites in ESI+ and ESI− modes, respectively, by aligning the mass fragments of the secondary mass spectra with those in the database. Four chemotypes were well established using the ESI+ metabolomics data. Of the 29 screened biomarkers, 21, 6, 19, and 5 markers corresponded to chemotypes I, II, III, and IV, respectively. More than half of the markers belonged to flavonoid and amino acid derivative classes.

Conclusion

Non-targeted metabolomics is a suitable approach to the chemotype classification and biomarker screening of male E. ulmoides flower core collections. We first evaluated the metabolite profiles and compositional variations of male E. ulmoides flowers in representative core collections before establishing possible chemotypes and significant biomarkers denoting the variations. We used genetic variations to infer the metabolite compositional variations of male E. ulmoides flower core collections instead of using the geographical origins of the germplasm resources. The newly proposed biomarkers sufficiently classified the chemotypes to be applied for germplasm resource evaluation.

Thrombin-based discovery strategy of bioactive-chemical quality marker combination for pollen of Typha orientalis by metabolomics coupled with chemometrics

BACKGROUND

It is of utmost significance to choose the bioactive components as quality markers for ensuring the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Nonetheless, some markers are able to assess effectively the quality of TCM without considering the pharmacological mechanisms and intrinsic chemical complexities.

OBJECTIVE

This underscores the need to discover new and efficient markers which can assess both quality and mechanism of action. Herein, a strategy of bioactive-chemical quality marker combination was proposed to improve the level of the quality control of TCM by metabolomics coupled with chemometrics.

METHODS

A four-step plan was followed. Firstly, acquisition of metabolic features and component characterization of different batches of pollen of Typha orientalis C.Presl were performed using UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Secondly, the direct inhibitory effects of pollen of T. orientalis on thrombin was assessed by using chromogenic substrate method together with HPLC. Thereafter, bioactive-chemical marker combination associated with anti-thrombin segregation was screened using supervised classifiers. Finally, quantitative assay and prediction-model of selected markers were established for guarantying the quality of pollen of T. orientalis.

RESULTS

A total of 22 compounds were annotated based on comparison with previous work from pollen of T. orientalis by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Citric acid and linolenic acid inhibited the thrombin activity with IC₅₀ values, 0.52 ± 0.02 and 0.51 ± 0.02 mg/mL, respectively. A bioactive-chemical marker combination including citric acid, linolenic acid, typhaneoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside were discovered and selected as quality markers for evaluation of pollen of T. orientalis according to their capacity for inhibiting thrombin.

CONCLUSION

The thrombin-based discovery strategy of bioactive-chemical marker combination was a powerful tool for screening the quality markers for evaluation of pollen of T. orientalis.

Pharmacodynamic and Metabolomics Studies on the Effect of Kouyanqing Granule in the Treatment of Phenol-Induced Oral Ulcer Worsened by Sleep Deprivation

Oral ulcers are the most prevalent oral mucosal diseases globally, and no specific treatment schemes are currently available due to the complexity of oral ulcer diseases. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of a deterioration in oral health. Kouyanqing Granule (KYQG) has been used for decades in China to treat inflammatory diseases of the mouth and throat associated with the hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency syndrome. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of KYQG in the treatment of oral ulcers are still unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate whether KYQG treatment could attenuate the symptoms of oral ulcers worsened by sleep deprivation and identify the involved metabolic pathways. First, we conducted chemical profiling of KYQG via UPLC–MS analysis. We then combined pharmacological and metabolomics approaches in a phenol-induced rat model of oral ulcers worsened by sleep deprivation. A total of 79 compounds were initially identified. Our observations showed that KYQG treatment induced a significantly higher healing rate in oral ulcers worsened by sleep deprivation. KYQG significantly reduced the levels of 5-HT and GABA in serum, and only decreased the 5-HT level in brain tissue after phenol injury followed by sleep deprivation. Moreover, KYQG administration significantly suppressed systemic inflammation by inhibiting TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and MCP-1. Immunohistochemical analysis further revealed that KYQG inhibited IL-6 expression in buccal mucosa tissues. KYQG treatment also significantly decreased the serum levels of ACTH, CORT, IgM, and 8-OHdG. Serum metabolomics analysis showed that a total of 30 metabolites showed significant differential abundances under KYQG intervention, while metabolic pathway analysis suggested that the altered metabolites were associated with the dysregulation of eight metabolic pathways. Taken together, our results indicated that KYQG attenuates the symptoms of oral ulcers worsened by sleep deprivation probably through the regulation of the neuroimmunoendocrine system, oxidative stress levels, and tryptophan metabolism. This study also provides a novel approach for addressing the increased health risks resulting from sleep deficiency using an herbal medicine formula.

A Study on Tissue-Specific Metabolite Variations in Polygonum cuspidatum by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolic Profiling

Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine widely used to treat tussis, hepatitis and arthralgia. This study identified and quantitatively described the bioactive compounds in different P. cuspidatum tissues. Metabolic profiles of root, stem, leaf, flower, rhizome and seed were determined using high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with multivariate analyses. In total, 53 metabolites, 8 reported for the first time in this species, were putatively identified and classified mainly as stilbenes, anthraquinones and flavonoids. A principal component analysis, cluster analysis and heatmap were used to depict the correlations between specimens and the relative abundance levels of these compounds in different plant tissues. An orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis found that 13 metabolites showed distinct differences among the six plant tissues, making them potential discriminative tissue-identification markers. This study will provide guidance in comparing, selecting and exploiting the medicinal uses of different P. cuspidatum tissues.